Grand National legend Tiger Roll 'very unlikely' to bid for three in a row

Tiger Roll's owner Michael O'Leary on Sunday morning reaffirmed his view that a historic bid for a third consecutive Grand National next year was very unlikely.

After Tiger Roll emulated the feat of Red Rum by winning back-to-back runnings of the Randox Health-sponsored race on Saturday, the Gigginstown House Stud boss suggested it might be the last time the diminutive superstar graces Aintree.

Speaking the morning after the night before, O'Leary said he felt "duty bound to mind Tiger Roll" and that the prospect of carrying top weight next year in an attempt to equal Red Rum's three Grand National wins (1973, 1974 and 1977) was unappealing.

Michael O'Leary celebrates Tiger Roll's historic success on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I was making the point yesterday that he's very unlikely to come back and run in the race next year," O'Leary said on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday show.

"He will be carrying top weight and he is a small horse. Every time he runs now, I'm getting nervous and would hate for anything unfortunate to happen while he is racing. There's huge public affection and we're duty bound to mind him now.

"For his sake and the sake of the race I wouldn't want to bring him back shouldering huge lumps of weight. There is no reason to emulate Red Rum's feat. Red Rum saved the Grand National and put it back on the map during a time when the race was struggling. Tiger Roll isn't Red Rum, he's Tiger Roll and I feel no pressure to go back and win it a third time."

Tiger Roll warmed up for his historic Grand National success with victory in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and that race looks set to be the priority for next season.

"His main target this year was the Cross Country at Cheltenham and I think that will probably be his main target next year," said O'Leary.

"I would be strongly of the view if he was to win the Cross Country next year for the third time, which would be his fifth win at Cheltenham, I would see no reason not to retire him at that point in time and let him go out on a high."

O'Leary, who was winning the Grand National for the third time following a first success with Rule The World in 2016, was focused on just enjoying his latest triumph.

"People talk about next year, next year but we should savour and enjoy these moments," he said. "The way the public has latched on to Tiger Roll has been incredible – you couldn't have written a better story."

The public will get a chance to show their affections to Tiger Roll with a homecoming ceremony taking place at Summerhill Village in County Meath at 5pm on Sunday.

O'Leary, who will be in attendance along with trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Davy Russell, said: "It's a lovely sunny day in Ireland and I'm sure we'll have great fun at Summerhill this evening.

"I hope Gordon will have sobered up by then as he was last seen in the pub at three o'clock this morning with the jockey in tow, so I think the horse will be fresh and well, if not the trainer and the jockey."

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